The character of Thomas More in Utopia says that he believes Hythloday would be a fine king's counselor because of the learning and knowledge he has gained on his travels. This store of information would be useful to a ruler and help to guide him in the right direction in administering his realm.

Hythloday disagrees that he would be useful as a courtier, saying he doesn't have the right gifts for it. He notes that courtiers are often people who are interested in getting ahead and taking care of their own and that they do so by flattering the king. If Hythloday came among them with superior wisdom or new ideas, they would find him a threat and do their best to undermine his advice to the king. When it came to introducing new ideas, as soon as he introduced one, they would fall back on tradition as a reason not to embrace a different way.

Therefore, despite all he has learned on his travels to Utopia, Hythloday does not think his knowledge would much benefit a king. He also feels that it would ruin his own peace of mind to become a counselor or courtier, because he is not ambitious for wealth, fame, or power, and he is more content to live quietly than vie for favor in a royal court. However, he does share his wisdom with More.